Denise Brown is one of eight data coaches in the Nashville public schools system. That's her title.

But she's more. She's a cheerleader, mentor and time saver.

Her job is to use Metro Nashville Public Schools' academic data to encourage, support and streamline teachers' work.

"Teachers are very limited on time," Brown said. "Some teachers have to feed kids breakfast. When we talk about needs, do we want teachers to feed kids breakfast or analyze a student's data? I think we are a medium that can get in say, 'Hey, once you are done with breakfast, here is what you can work on and here is what will be most effective for your group of kids.'"

Brown and her fellow colleagues — all former teachers themselves — work in over 60 schools, a Herculean lift for the small shop. Brown is assigned to over 10 schools.

Buy Photo

Nashville Metro Public Schools data coach Denise Brown sits in front of an assessment summary student performance map at Chadwell Elementary on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Madison, Tenn. The map explains how to use data better to educate students. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's annual report on Nashville schools recommends the district focus on data and helping teachers and parents understand data.(Photo: Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean)

"No two schools are alike," she said.

The support the data coaches provide is one of the reasons why the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce identified increasing their numbers as a priority for Metro Schools in its annual report card released Tuesday.

This year's 26th annual Education Report Card also highlighted four other priorities, all centered around the theme of using data to improve student outcomes. Those include increasing planning time for teachers to dissect student data and better connecting parents to their student's academic data.

The use of data was a central issue for the 30-member committee. Teachers have plenty of data. But they don't always have the expertise to determine how best to use it, said Meg Harris, chamber report card co-chair and the human resources business partner for Nashville Business Solutions Center, UBS.

"There is so much data available to people, the issue isn't that there is a shortage," Harris said. "The challenge is for teachers and educators to have the time, training and support they need to use that data in the right way to really differentiate instructional practice and inform decisions."

Director of Schools Shawn Joseph said the committee "hit the nail on the head."

"We will continue our efforts to improve our outreach to families so they not only can access the data, but will understand their children’s progress and how they can help them improve," Joseph said. "In this coming year, we will look for more opportunities for common planning, even proposing legislation allowing more flexibility to fit planning time into the school calendar."

Connecting data to instruction

For the district, the data coaches act as a conduit that connects data to instruction, said Larry Miles, a lead Metro Schools data coach.

He said there is a lot of data that is available to teachers, but not every teacher is an expert in breaking data to inform classroom instruction.

Data coaches spend their time meeting one-on-one with teachers or explaining the significance of data points reflected in tests such as TNReady or district assessments.

But it's not all data points, Miles said. The job is also about building relationships with teachers and parents, Miles said.

Buy Photo

Chadwell Elementary facility members talk on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, about how to use data to better educate students in Madison, Tenn. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's annual report on Nashville schools recommends the district focus on data and helping teachers and parents understand data.(Photo: Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean)

Brown said during her four years as a data coach, she's also worked with parents. Schools often have her speak during data nights or directly with parents.

The chamber report recognizes that data must be explained and interpreted for parents to help them guide their child's educational path.

Brown's guidance on data, she reiterated, also extends to teachers.

"Through the data, I can tell a teacher this is what you are amazing at, here's how you can share this with colleagues and here's how you can help the school grow," Brown said.

"We support and find out what teachers need. Sometimes there is no need for a teacher to go back to and read the second grade standards, but instead just to focus on one small part.

"Maybe we are timesavers. We save time for teachers that are very limited on time."

Reach Jason Gonzales at jagonzales@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.

The recommendations

Every year, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce releases a report card focused on Nashville schools and lists five recommendations, commendations and concerns.

This year's recommendations focus on the district's use of data to improve student and school outcomes. They are:

Metro Nashville Public Schools should expand the number of data coaches to provide more access in schools.

The district should expand planning time for teachers in elementary and middle school grades to further collaboration around student data.

Metro Schools should expand opt-in data-sharing agreements with the city's nonprofit community to help inform decisions inside and outside of schools.

Nashville public schools should create a program that highlights best practices across all school types in using student data.

Nashville schools should create a plan to help families access and understand their student’s data, as well as set goals for its student data portal.

Commendations and concerns

The chamber listed five commendations and concerns as the district heads into the new year.

Commendations:

The district has seen significant increases in early post-secondary opportunities.

Mayor Megan Barry's Opportunity NOW has been a success, which offers employment opportunities to Nashville high school students.

Barry and the Metro Council support increased funding for the district.

Superintendent Shawn Joseph and his administration have a focus on equity and urgency.

The district and city has a comprehensive city plan in addressing early literacy.

Concerns:

District performance is well below the state average on the new TNReady assessments.

Mistakes in state testing pose a challenge for accountability.

Nashville schools doesn't have a proper to measure against how it will become the “fastest-improving urban school system in America."

Teacher recruitment and retention remains an issue for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

There is uncertainty in how to categorize school performance at the district level.